Honor God with Your Heart

Silhouette of person reaching towards sunset sky.

It is a longstanding tradition for people to accuse the Church of hypocrisy. I can’t say I blame them. Just look around the Church and you will be hard-pressed to find many people living the words they preach. It is much easier to talk about God than to love Him in your heart. One of…

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Chase Away Sin

Children running in a grassy park area.

Take a moment and look around at the behavior of those around you. Is the behavior worthy of Christ? We are surrounded by people who refuse to honor Christ. Or worse, those who think they are honoring Christ while refusing to ‘give up’ their sin, so we chase them away. This is the most common…

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Pray for the People

A torn piece of paper that says Prayer

After tragedies like the recent floods in Texas which caused many deaths, it is common to hear people talk about ‘thoughts and prayers’ for those who are suffering. Other times, on just a normal day someone might approach you and ask you to pray for them. Do you pray? One of the reasons clergy dress…

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You are not Invisible

Smiling woman standing out in a crowd.

In a world surrounded by crowds and constant background ‘noise’ it can feel like nobody sees you. You go to work dutifully and spend the day unnoticed by your coworkers and supervisors. Everyone is jockeying for ‘their ten minutes of fame, but you feel invisible. There was a woman who was so sick that she…

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Spiritual Burnout

Person overwhelmed, holding "Help" sign at desk.

It’s more common than you might think. You read a ‘few compelling’ articles online and you’re convinced you must become Orthodox. Next thing you know, you purchased a few dozen icons, three fasting cookbooks, and were baptized. Fast forward to today, and you lost your passion. Your pray but can’t remain focused. You keep forgetting…

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Not Enough Time

Clock face showing Roman numerals and hands.

I hear it all the time. You want to become a ‘better’ Christian, but you don’t know where to start. Everything the Church asks you to do requires time you ‘just don’t have’ to spare. Between your job, your family, and whatever ‘spare time’ you might enjoy, there isn’t any time left for Church. Honestly,…

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Equal Genders

Blue and pink figures on balanced scale.

Our society in recent years has reignited the ‘battle of the sexes’ by attacking every place and every organization that honors the difference between men and women. Only in the Church, enlightened by Christ, can we truly see equality of men and women. If you don’t see equality, either you are blinded by your own…

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Christ Working

Work Zone sign under blue sky.

Looking back on the past twenty years since my ordination, and more than thirty years of ministry, I am constantly reminded that everything I was blessed to ‘accomplish’ was in fact not my accomplishment. Everything I have ever done good has been the work of Christ. It is very tempting to ‘take credit’ for all…

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